Editor’s Note: This devotion was written by Dianna Hobbs and used by permission from her ‘Your Daily Cup of Inspiration’ blog. To read more encouragement like this, visit YourDailyCupOfInspiration.com.

My youngest son Kaleb, who is fascinated by foreign languages and aspires to be multilingual, is learning Mandarin Chinese and loves it. He has even taught me a few Chinese words, though I can’t pronounce them nearly as well as he can.

To sharpen his ability to speak and understand the language, my diligent teen, who turned 15 yesterday, completes his daily lessons. Plus, Kaleb watches programs, with no subtitles, where the characters speak only Mandarin Chinese. He also substitutes some Chinese words for English words when he talks to us around the house.

Instead of saying common words and phrases in English, like “thank you,” “yes,” “very good,” “good morning,” “goodbye,” “mom,” and “dad,” he says them in Mandarin Chinese. This helps him speak the language more fluently, and he’s quite good at it too. I enjoy seeing him make progress and do something that lights him up inside!

A few mornings ago, when I greeted Kaleb and asked him how he slept, he answered me in Mandarin Chinese. As I walked away, I smiled to myself and thought about how impressed I am with his commitment to learning. After all, mastering a different language isn’t easy. It takes work, time, and dedication. This is true both naturally and spiritually.

With this thought in mind, I was reading Jeremiah 15 during my personal Bible study today. In this chapter, Jeremiah the Prophet, who was commanded to speak prophetic words of judgement against Judah for their rebellion against God, was feeling discouraged and rejected. He complained about the constant suffering, persecution and ridicule he endured for the sake of the ministry.

“Why is my pain unending and my wound grievous and incurable?” he asked God in verse 18.

But instead of giving into Jeremiah’s pity party, God said to him in the following verse, “If you repent, I will restore you that you may serve me; if you utter worthy, not worthless, words, you will be my spokesman.”

Worthy, not worthless, words.

That phrase really stuck out to me, because in our humanness, we speak the language of the flesh. It’s full of complaining, negativity, and discouragement. But God challenges us to speak a new, worthy, valuable language that is full of faith, positivity, and encouragement from His word. Worthless words strip us of joy, rob us of peace, and take away our power. But worthy words add joy and peace, and they empower us.

Because I struggle with a traumatic brain injury tied to 2019’s mini stroke and multiple seizures and all the resulting unpleasant side effects, I have to work extra hard to retrain my thinking. Negative thoughts far too easily pop into my head and come pouring out of my mouth. Friend, if I don’t consciously fight back with God’s word, I will speak negative things about myself and over my destiny. So, when I tell you to practice faith-talk, I am saying this from experience.

Know that I have to do my part too, no matter how many ways my brain injury increases the difficulty level of positive thinking and faith-walking.

What kind of words are you speaking? Speaking worthy words takes work, time, dedication, and practice. Our native, fleshly tongue is accustomed to uttering words of fear, but we must train ourselves to utter words of faith. Like Kaleb substitutes Mandarin Chinese for English, swap out words of fear for words of faith.

What are words of faith? Here are some:

I have the victory through Christ (1 Corinthians 15:57); The Greater One lives inside me (1 John 4:4); I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me (Philippians 4:13); No weapon formed against me will prosper (Isaiah 54:17); I am more than a conqueror through Christ (Romans 8:37); By His stripes I am healed (Isaiah 53:5); I will stand still and see the salvation of the Lord, because God fights for me (Exodus 14:13-14); The Lord is my refuge and strength, my present help in trouble (Psalm 46:1).

When you talk like that, things shift in your circumstances. When you speak the word of God, He shows up, because, according to Jeremiah 1:12, which is what I’m stirring into your cup of inspiration, God says, “…for I watch over my word to perform it.”

As you drink down the contents of your cup, know that you have power in your mouth. When you stop using the language of fear and adopt the language of faith, you activate God’s power. And you pave the way for God to manifest His goodness, blessings, and favor.

Now, let’s pray.

God, when trouble is all around me, the temptation to speak negative words of doubt, fear and worry is so strong. But please help me to speak words of faith, so I can see Your mighty hand move and Your power manifest in my life. In Jesus’ name, Amen.